"We are hooked into the utility but rely mostly on solar and wind," Bob says. The solar panels and wind turbine feed into a battery bank and supply electricity for everything in the house and barn except the high-load items--the stove, dishwasher and clothes dryer. Those run off the utility. There are practical advantages, Lee says: "Without the off-grid system we'd have to hand-carry water to the horses when the power is out, which occurs frequently here. With 20 horses, that's a lot of water to tote."
Bob, who has studied solar and wind power extensively, designed and installed the system; but he says most people will need a professional to do this. If wind turbines and other components aren't well located and properly set up, he notes, they won't produce the power they should. Getting permits and approvals can be tricky, too. The farm's wind turbine was delayed two years by neighbors' objections.
These systems can be expensive. While many states offer tax credits or other incentives, cost can be a hurdle. "The question we're asked most is, what's the payback time?" Bob says. "If saving money is your motivation, forget it. The motivation should be the fact that we need to change our energy infrastructure, and you want to be part of that process of change." That said, he notes, most solar modules last 20 to 30 years. Over that time, with energy costs rising, an alternative system may start to look cheap.
If an off-grid system isn't in your budget, you may still be able to use energy from renewable sources. Find out if your utility offers a "clean energy" option that lets you choose to use power generated from sources like wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric.
Green for All
If you board your horse, you don't get to decide if his manure will be composted or if renewable energy will power his stall fan. But you can still make green choices in your horse life. Here are eight steps that any rider can take.
- Instead of buying bottled water to bring to the barn, fill a reusable water bottle with cold tap water. You can use a filter to purify the water, if that's necessary.
- Use earth-friendly grooming products when you can, like nonchemical fly sprays and shampoos with biodegradable surfactants. Look for detergents and other cleaning products with the Design for the Environment logo . (DfE, a US Environmental Protection Agency program, certifies that products contain only those ingredients that pose the least concern among chemicals in their class.)
- Recycle your supplement containers, shampoo and spray bottles, and other "empties" from the barn.
- Air-dry your horse laundry to use less electricity.
- Wash down your horse with a bucket and a sponge, instead of a hose, to use less water.
- Share, swap and buy secondhand equipment when you can. You'll save money and, by extending the life of an existing product, you'll save the natural resources and energy that would be used to make something new.
- Look for organic and recycled materials when you buy new gear. Fleece made from recycled soda bottles and fabrics using organic cotton, bamboo and other "green" fibers are beginning to show up in tack shops.
- Stay on horse trails when you ride out, and don't ride on muddy trails. Trailblazing or riding over soft ground tears up the land and leads to erosion, runoff and water pollution. If you ride out often, volunteer to help maintain the trails you use.
This article originally appeared in the March 2009 issue of Practical Horseman.
